Earth mover with powered auger combination



Oct. 13, 1970 H. 0. FENSKE 3 ,533,173

EARTH MOVER WITH POWERED AUGER COMBINATION Filed Feb. 8, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1970 H. D. FENSKE 3,533,173

EARTH MOVER WITH POWERED AUGER COMBINATION Filed Feb. 8, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mid/4K0 & 50365 BLQMQM Oct. 13, 1970 H. D. FENSKE 3,533,173

EARTH MOVER WITH POWERED AUGER COMBINATION Filed Feb. 8, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Ava/44w 0. FEVSk United States 3,533,173 EARTH MOVER WITH POWERED AUGER COMBINATION Howard D. Fenske, 2646 Kenowa SW., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49504 Filed Feb. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 614,611 Int. Cl. E02f 3/62; B60p 1/40 US. Cl. 37-4 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND This invention relates to an earth moving vehicle, and more particularly to an earth mover capable of effective and eificient self-loading under its own power.

Earth movers presently used are capable of hauling large volumes. Such vehicles are used chiefly for short distance hauling, with filling and discharge frequently being on the same site. Although their volume capacity is substantial, each filling of the bowl assembly of a conventional earth mover requires the pushing assistance of a large dozer vehicle. Each earth mover has a large rear bumper for this purpose.

In recent years, self-filling earth movers have become available which employ an endless recirculating elevator, as on chains, mounted to the front or rear of the unit, for carrying the earth up over the top of the bowl and dumping it down through the open top into the bowl. Although these units eliminate the necessity of the services of the expenesive dozer for loading, the rough usage to which the recirculating elevators are subjected creates constant maintenance problems, as is known to those in the field. If rocks are encountered, serious, costly damage to the recirculating elevator to the extent of many thousands of dollars can quickly occur. Labor and parts expense for maintenance causes very substantial operating expense, and downtime of the costly equipment represents substantial loss. Loading rates can also be undesirably low. Moreover, since this complex equipment is a great deal more expensive than the conventional earth mover, many construction people prefer to purchase the conventional mover and a dozer since, if they must make the very large investment necessary for either alternative, they prefer to have the flexibility of owning the two vehicles.

The inventor herein, having many years experience in the ownership, operation, and maintenance of such equipment, realized that what is really needed is an earth mover capable of filling under its own power, but having a cost very close to that of the simple conventional earth mover that requires dozer assistance to fill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel type of self-filling, earth moving vehicle, capable of filling under its own power, being of relatively simple, inexpensive construction, with a cost only a relatively small amount greater than that of conventional earth movers, and without the high maintenance and downtime costs characteristic of available complex self-filling equipment.

3,533,173 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Another object of this invention is to provide a selffilling earth mover capable of filling from the bottom as do conventional dozer-assisted earth movers, using the normal blade and inlet, and yet capable of filling up to a high volume capacity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a selffilling earth mover capable of particularly rough usage, comparable to that which the tough, conventional assistfilled earth movers accommodate, including effective handling of rocks and debris.

Briefly, the inventive earth moving vehicle incorporates in combination with an earth holding bowl assembly having an underside earth inlet opening and adjacent scraper blade, a power auger assembly having generally vertically oriented angers in the bowl with their lower ends adjacent the inlet opening, to serve the important function of immediately removing the incoming earth out of the high back pressure region adjacent the opening, and secondly to serve the function of elevating the dirt up to the top to allow it to spill down and outwardly in the bowl.

The auger assembly is mounted to move so as to not obstruct discharge from the bowl.

Optionally, additional power angers are diagonally oriented from the opening upwardly and to the rear of the bowl for most effective bowl filling.

Other objects will be apparent from studying the drawings and description.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective, rear view of an earth moving vehicle employing the invention in combination therewith;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 1, shown with the movable apron and attached auger hoist assembly pivoted upwardly in the discharge position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the novel hoist equipment, as viewed from above and to the rear thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational, sectional view of the novel equipment, showing portions such as wheels only in outline form;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational, sectional view of the apparatus in FIG. 4, showing the apparatus in the discharge condition;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational sectional View of a modified form of the apparatus, also having in combination auger means to cause more effective filling toward the rear of the vehicle; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, the complete assembly 10' there shown comprises an articulated earth moving vehicle having a front powered tractor 12 with cab, and a rear earth hauling bowl assembly 14.

The powered tractor 12 includes a conventional power source such as an internal combustion diesel engine, and is pivotally connected to a vertical pivot axis to bowl assembly 14 by a conventional hitch mechanism. In this vehicle shown, the tractor is basically supported on a pair of large traction wheels 16. Actually, these wheels complement the rear traction wheels 18 on the rear of the bowl assembly 14.

The tractor also includes a conventional electrical generator (not shown) powered by the internal combustion engine, and employed to operate the electrical systems on the vertical and preferably the auger mechanism in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

The rear, earth hauling, bowl assembly 14 of the earth mover may assume any of a variety of conventional forms. In this particular embodiment, the bowl assembly includes a main bowl member 22 having a bottom 24, a

pair of spaced side panels 26, and an open front, a rear panel 28, which preferably is shiftable forwardly under power for unloading purposes. Rear panel 28 normally is powered by suitable power means such as mechanical cables, hydraulic units, or the like, and is slidably mounted on suitable bearing surfaces, all of which are not shown because this could vary greatly and is conventional in the art.

The forward portion of the open front bowl is normally enclosed by an apron subassembly 30 which includes a forwardly convexly curved front panel 32, and a pair of side panels 34. Apron 30 has its side panels pivotally mounted to the side panels of the main bowl at pivot points 36, to enable the apron to be elevated by suitable power mechanism such as power cable means, mechanical gear or lever means, hydraulic means, or electric means, none of which are shown because these are conventional in the art. The lower portion of front panel 32 of apron 30 projects rearwardly and terminates in a rear, transverse edge which is spaced from the downwardly, forwardly, diagonally oriented, scraping blade 50 transverse of the vehicle, and forming the front terminal portion of bottom panel 24 of bowl 22. This edge and blade form an elongated earth inlet opening 54 oriented transversely of the vehicle and elongated bowl assembly, in conventional fashion. This blade may be lowered and elevated into and out of engagement with the earth by typical mechanism including diagonal support arms 60, for example, for controlling the time and duration of filling of the bowl. The details of this construction are not shown because such are conventional. This scraper blade digs into the earth being traversed, when lowered, causing the forward movement of the vehicle to force earth through opening 54 into the bowl assembly.

As is known to those in the art, vehicles like that shown basically are not capable of self-filling under their own power. Once the scraper blade begins gouging into the surface, the resistance to forward movement becomes so great that the large wheels spin uselessly, unless a dozer type vehicle is brought into pushing engagement with the central, rearwardly protruding frame and bumper assembly 64 here shown only partially and in outline form. Even in soft dirt, filling of the unit operating by itself is difficult and only partial.

The novel combination, however, enables the earth mover vehicle to be self-filling, effectively and efficiently.

More specifically, employed in combination with the bowl assembly of earth moving vehicle is an auger assembly 70, which has a support framework 72 rigidly secured to the bowl assembly, preferably to apron subassembly 30. This framework may assume a variety of configurations, arrangements, and bracing. The framework shown includes a pair of studs 76 secured to the front of apron 30, extending upwardly therefrom for securement to a rectangular frame portion 78 which is generally horizontally and rearwardly oriented, over the front of the bowl assembly. A rearward, generally rectangular, downwardly depending support 80 is secured to portion 78. This inverted, generally J-shaped, framework structure is braced by suitable diagonal braces 82 or the like.

Rotatably mounted to support 80 is a plurality of vertically oriented auger units, shown to include a central auger 86 and a pair of straddling augers 88. These are aligned laterally of each other, transversely of the bowl. They are arranged generally across opening 54. The lower ends of the augers are positioned slightly above opening 54. Central auger 86 has the upper end portion of its vertical shaft stabilized by a bearing journal 90 and rotatably secured to a rotary power supply such as an electrical motor 92. The shafts of augers 88 have their upper ends rotatably journaled in bearing journals 96 secured to frame 80. The central auger, in the form of the device shown, is directly powered by motor 92, while augers 88 are powered through a drive connection with r the main shaft, as with belt and pulley connections, or

chain and sprocket connections, or alternatively with intermeshed gears or any other suitable driving coupling arrangement. Each of the augers may have its own separate motor if this is desired.

At least the lower end portions of these augers have helical fiighting which may vary considerably in diameter, pitch, or other characteristics, although they should have a relatively high volumedisplacement.

The lower terminal portions of these augers are adjacent inlet 54 to be immediately reactive upon the incoming earth to the bowl assembly for removal of the incoming earth as rapidly as possible from the high backpressure zone immediately inside the bowl adjacent opening 54 and scraper blade 50. This prevents this small area from becoming packed too tightly and clogged, creating an excessive back pressure which effectively stops the fiow of the earth and thereafter prevents the earth from effectively moving continuously into the vehicle. Once the flow of earth ceases, the earth tends to become excessively compacted, creating a severe operational bottleneck which is difiicult, if possible, to subsequently overcome. Hence, the earth must be moved immediately out of this zone if self-filling is to be obtained.

Preferably, power motor 92 is an electrical motor since it can be driven from the generator normally found in tractor 12 by simply running electrical leads back to the bowl assembly. Alternatively, hydraulic or mechanical power motor means may be employed if this is more desirable with respect to the particular vehicle construction. In this regard, it will be realized that the actual vehicle structure may vary considerably within the concept of the invention.

In operation, the vehicle fills with earth when the apron and bowl are in the relationship shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, and discharges the earth when in a bowl and apron relationship shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, as the vehicle moves forwardly, and the bowl assembly is lowered to place the scraper blade into gouging relationship with the earth surface over which the vehicle is passing, the earth is forced into the relatively narrow opening 54 and is immediately elevated by the spinning augers out of this high back pressure zone upwardly to the top of the bowl assembly where it is dropped and allowed to flow downwardly and outwardly away from the augers toward the front, rear, and sides of the bowl assembly. The rapid removal of the earth from the high pressure zone adjacent inlet 54 prevents the high back pressure adjacent inlet 54 from physically stopping the vehicle, allowing the earth to continue to move into the bowl in a continuous stream without jamming or packing at the inlet. The auger then lifts the earth up, both actions thereby enabling effective filling of a major share of the bowl assembly.

After the vehicle is filled, scraper blade 50 is elevated by the conventional mechanism employed for this purpose, the vehicle is driven to the discharge area, and, while is still moving, apron 30 is rotated and elevated about its horizontal pivot axis on pins 36 to enlarge opening 54 and create a large discharge opening between blade 50 and the rear edge of apron 30, in conventional manner, enabling the dirt to be discharged. As apron 30' is elevated, the entire auger assembly is elevated and pivoted therewith out of the discharge Opening created, to prevent hinderance with the unloading function. Actual operation shows the unloading to proceed smoothly. Forward movement of the rear panel 28 facilitates discharge (FIG. 5).

During loading, the types of terrain which can be accommodated with a non-self-filling earth mover can also be accommodated with this novel equipment. Even rockcontaining areas can be worked without undue difiiculty since it has been found during experimental operation that rocks small enough to fit within opening 54 will be pushed aside by the augers and will not seriously damage the heavy duty auger equipment. The auger units are relatively simple, and rugged, and can be securely mounted adjacent their upper ends for effective heavy duty work. If desired, mounting bearings can be secured between lower ends portions of the auger shafts and the apron for reinforcing, but this has been found unnecessary when effective mounting is achieved on the upper ends. 'Further, the augers are protected from severe forces caused by large rocks or extra rough conditions by their very location inside the bowl assembly. This is in contrast to other self-loading units having the recirculatory loading elevator in an exposed condition outside the bowl assembly.

In addition to the auger assembly shown in the combination in FIGS. 1 through 5, a second auger assembly 100 is preferably also employed in the combination. This second auger assembly is mounted to the bowl assembly, preferably to the conventional fixed transverse beam 101 above and adjacent rear panel 28. Preferably, this assembly includes a plurality of augers such as the three here shown, which extend from the rear upper portion of the bowl, forwardly toward the first auger assembly, tenninatirrg short thereof. These three augers 102 are arranged side by side transversely across the vehicle. These augers may be powered by a common power motor means or by individual rotors such as electrical motors 112, or an equivalent hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic power system.

These additional augers distribute the incoming earth to the rear portions of the elongated bowl assembly from the zone above inlet 54 to which the first augers elevate the dirt, thereby cooperating with and supplementing first auger assembly.

Using the first auger assembly, it has been found that the dirt may actually be heaped right up over the sides I of the bowl without pushing assistance of another vehicle. I Yet there is usually an empty space adjacent the tail end of the conventional bowl. Using the supplemental auger assembly, the two cooperate to fill the entire bowl rapidly and dependably.

It is conceivable that this second auger assembly can; assume a variety of forms, mounting arrangements, and the like. Also it is conceivable that the rear auger assembly could conceivably be employed without employing the first auger assembly, although this would not be the preferred form of the apparatus. Since minor variations in the arrangement and constructions could be made without departing from the concepts presented, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, and the reasonably equivalent structures to those defined therein.

I claim:

1. An earth moving vehicle comprising, in combination with a bowl assembly having an underside earth inlet opening and a scraper blade adjacent said inlet; an anger assembly mounted to said bowl assembly, having at least one generally vertically arranged anger in said bowl assembly, said auger being open and unshielded with its lower end adjacent said earth inlet opening, and having power motor means operably connected to said auger to rotate it and thereby boost earth scraped into said inlet opening by said blade up out of the region of said inlet opening and above the earth at the scraper blade and inlet opening of said bowl assembly.

2. The combination in claim 1 wherein said inlet opening is an elongated inlet transverse to said bowl assembly, and said auger assembly includes a plurality of generally vertical augers arranged along said inlet opening and having power motor means operably connected to all of said augers.

3. An earth moving vehicle comprising, in combination with a bowl assembly having an underside earth inlet opening and a scraper blade adjacent said inlet; an auger assembly mounted to said bowl assembly, having at least one generally vertically arranged anger in said bowl assembly, with its lower end adjacent said earth inlet opening, and having power motor means operably connected to said auger to rotate it and thereby boost earth scraped into said inlet opening by said blade up out of the region of said inlet opening and into the upper portions of said bowl assembly said bowl assembly including a main bowl, and a bowl closing apron shiftable with respect to said main bowl to enlarge said opening for discharge of earth, and said auger assembly being mounted to said apron to shift therewith to allow earth discharge without undue interference from said auger assembly.

4. The combination in claim 3 wherein said apron is pivotally mounted to said main bowl and said anger assembly pivots with said apron.

5. The combination in claim 3 including in addition a second auger assembly mounted to said main bowl and having at least one auger in said main bowl, oriented rearwardly away from said opening, and second power motor means operably connected to said auger of said second auger assembly.

6. The combination in claim 5 wherein said second auger assembly has a plurality of augers arranged side by side across said main bowl, and said second power motor means operably connected to all of said augers.

7. The combination in claim 1 including in addition a second auger assembly having at least one auger oriented rearwardly away from said opening, and second power motor means operably connected to said auger of said second auger assembly.

8. An earth moving vehicle comprising, in combination with a bowl assembly having an underside earth inlet opening and a scraper blade adjacent said inlet; said bowl assembly including a main bowl, and a bowl closing apron shiftable with respect to said main bowl to enlarge said opening for discharge of earth; an anger assembly mounted to said bowl assembly, having at least one anger in said bowl assembly, with its lower end adjacent said earth inlet opening, and having power motor means operably connected to said auger to rotate it and thereby move earth scraped into said inlet opening by said blade out of the region of said inlet opening; and said auger assembly being coupled to and mounted with respect to said apron to shift solely in response to movement of the apron from said enlarged opening to allow earth discharge without interference from said auger assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,863 8/1921 Chayer 37-8 2,296,909 9/1942 Dake.

2,563,926 8/1951 Elliott et al 37-8 2,646,736 7/1953 Swartout 37-82 3,089,601 5/ 1963 Chaney et al. 19'8-9 3,170,254 2/1965 Martin 37-124 3,294,219 12/1966 Mayrath 198-213 3,300,032 1/1967 Dion 198-213 3,431,659 3/1969 Elger 37-126 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner E. H. EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

